Celebrating 20 Years
This week, we’re raising a (sawdust-free) toast to Mark Barrett, who marks 20 years with Beechwood.
From day one as a trainee arborist to today as a Contract Manager and Tree Surveyor, Mark’s journey is the definition of growing a career the right way: skill by skill, job by job, year by year.
From trainee to contract manager (and everything in between)
Mark joined Beechwood as a young climber, quickly earning his stripes on some of our most technical sites. He progressed through Team Leader roles, climbing daily, mentoring ground crews, and delivering right-first-time work, before stepping into management, where he now plans, leads and audits work across multiple sites.
For the past 10 years, Mark has been an integral part of our management team, leading our prestigious contract with Coventry City Council. If you’ve seen a safe, well-managed tree operation on the city’s highways or in public spaces, there’s a good chance Mark had a hand in the planning, standards, and delivery.
Qualifications and professional standards
Mark’s commitment to quality and safety is matched by his qualifications, most recently passing the LANTRA Professional Tree Inspector (PTI) course. That sits alongside a long list of technical tickets (climbing, aerial cutting, rigging, MEWP, First Aid +F, LOLER awareness) and years of applying BS 3998 principles in the real world.
What that means in practice: proportionate, defensible tree management—clear objectives, good cuts, and calm, competent leadership when the weather turns.
What colleagues say (without the blushes)
Calm under pressure: Whether it’s storm response at 2am or a busy city-centre dismantle with traffic management, Mark is unflappable.
Mentor at heart: He’s helped dozens of arborists step up, from first knots to first lead climbs.
Client confidence: Trusted by council teams, site managers and residents alike, communicating clearly, setting expectations, and keeping people safe.
Also, in the great Beechwood tradition: there’s never a cake or biscuit safe in the office when Mark’s around. 🍰🍪 Balance is key, climb hard, snack harder.
Highlights from two decades
Coventry Highways & Public Realm: Leading programmes with complex traffic, ecology and stakeholder interfaces.
Emergency response: Coordinating make-safe operations and clear-ups during storms, with full documentation for clients and insurers.
Training culture: Rolling out toolbox talks, on-site coaching and quality audits that lift performance across teams.
Tree surveying & risk: Applying PTI standards to create practical, defensible inspection regimes for clients.
Thank you, Mark
Twenty years is a milestone built on thousands of decisions: choosing the safer method, taking the extra minute to brief the team, finishing the job tidily, and picking up the phone to update a client before they ask. That’s Mark’s standard, and it’s a big part of why Beechwood is trusted across the region.
“Mark’s journey from trainee arborist to contract manager says everything about what we value at Beechwood, skill, standards and steady leadership. For ten years he’s led our Coventry contract with calm competence, and his PTI qualification is the latest step in a career built the right way.”
Simon Rotheram - Managing Director
Here’s to the next chapter. We’re proud to have you leading from the front.
Want to work with people like Mark?
Whether you’re looking for tree inspections and risk management, planned maintenance, or emergency response, you’ll get Beechwood’s trademark: competent teams, clear communication and work to BS 3998.
Thinking of joining the team?
If Mark’s story sounds like the career you want, from trainee to team leader to management, keep an eye on our vacancies or drop us a line.
